Long-time Catholic League member Tom Dennelly wrote to Senator Edward Kennedy in 1971 expressing his views on abortion (this was a year-and-a-half before Roe v. Wade). In a letter dated August 3, 1971, Senator Kennedy replied; excerpts appear below. To read the full text, click here:

While the deep concern of a woman bearing an unwanted child merits consideration and sympathy, it is my personal feeling that the legalization of abortion on demand is not in accordance with the value which our civilization places on human life. Wanted or unwanted, I believe that human life, even at its earliest stages, has certain rights which must be recognizedthe right to be born, the right to love, the right to grow old.

On the question of the individuals freedom of choice there are easily available birth control methods and information which women may employ to prevent or postpone pregnancy. But once life has begun, no matter at what stage of growth, it is my belief that termination should not be decided merely by desire.

When history looks back to this era it should recognize this generation as one which cared about human beings enough to halt the practice of war, to provide a decent living for every family, and to fulfill its responsibility to its children from the very moment of conception.

Catholic League president William Donohue opined as follows:

The same Ted Kennedy who once championed the rights of the unborn now champions the right of a doctor to jam a scissor into the skull of an infant who is 80-percent born. Sadly for him, history will look back at this era and recognize that he didnt care enough about human beings to take responsibility for children from the very moment of conception.

Sadly, this is no surprise. Ted Kennedy is a despicable human being. He slivers away from trouble like the snake he is, and will not hesitate to engage in the most outrageous demagoguery to destroy the reputation of another.

While the deep concern of a woman bearing an unwanted child merits consideration and sympathy, it is my personal feeling that the legalization of abortion on demand is not in accordance with the value which our civilization places on human life. Wanted or unwanted, I believe that human life, even at its earliest stages, has certain rights which must be recognizedthe right to be born, the right to love, the right to grow old.".... Teddy now has a more nuanced value.

But once life has begun, no matter at what stage of growth, it is my belief that termination should not be decided merely by desire.

When history looks back to this era it should recognize this generation as one which cared about human beings enough to halt the practice of war, to provide a decent living for every family, and to fulfill its responsibility to its children from the very moment of conception.

When history looks back to this era, it'll witness a host of sellouts for political gain, among them Kennedy's, Jesse Jackson's, and Bill Clinton's. All three wrote eloquent defenses for the lives of the unborn before they made their Faustian transaction.

Are the folks in taxachusetts demented that they keep electing a Kennedy? I could see 40-50 years ago that there might have been an Irish-American ethnic pride thing going on-----but that's definitely a thing of the past. My father was primarily Irish Catholic and never voted for a Kennedy. The fact was and is that the whole gang of them were sleezy (although charismatic)---and I'm really not bringing up Old Joe's rum running. (Prohibition was stupid and I would have probably run a speakeasy if I were alive then)

While the deep concern of a woman bearing a bottle of Scotch merits consideration and anticipation, it is my personal feeling that the easy availability of liquor on demand is not in accordance with the value which our civilization places on us when we are sober. Wanted or unwanted, I believe that bottle of Scotch, yummy as it is, has certain rights which must be recognizedthe right to be consumed in full by a Kennedy, the right to flood a Kennedy's veins with pure, unadulterated alcohol right after marinating your girlfriend in the waters off of Chappaquiddick, and the right to dodge responsibility the morning after.

Well if they weren't would they keep putting old teddy boy in office? There has to be someone that could run against him, or at least I would think there would be....I think his son Patrick Kennedy is running for congressman or something I heard....

19
posted on 08/03/2005 11:22:42 AM PDT
by HarleyLady27
(I have a ? for the libs: "Do they ever shut up on your planet?" "Grow your own dope, plant a lib")

Ted Kennedy runs unopposed or lightly opposed in most elections i.e. (Jack E. Robinson). He does seem to have a cult like following in Boston that can't be easily explained. Mitt Romney gave Ted a run for his money about ten years ago. Ted did bring up the "Mormon" thing in the middle of the race which seemed to help him. All in all Ted Kennedy was appointed Senator for life back in 1962 after a Kennedy family friend named Smith held the spot for Ted for two years. I have never voted for Ted but I would like to point out that Strom Thurmond seemed to be in the senate for a couple of terms too long. Peculiarities arent exclusive to the Northeast.

It is easy to get disoriented if you are trapped in a car underwater, especially if you have been drinking enough to leave a party with Ted. If you are in an air pocket you are not going to want to turn around and swim down away from the pocket.

27
posted on 08/03/2005 1:04:13 PM PDT
by kennedy
("Why would I listen to losers?")

While the deep concern of a woman bearing an unwanted child merits consideration and sympathy, it is my personal feeling that the legalization of abortion on demand is not in accordance with the value which our civilization places on human life. Wanted or unwanted, I believe that human life, even at its earliest stages, has certain rights which must be recognizedthe right to be born, the right to love, the right to grow old.

This was all said of course well before Fat Ted had a complete, alcoholic induced, melt down of brain cells, and fell completely on the communist/leftist/liberal sword of life. Today, this means absolute nothing to him. Nothing. He is about as Catholic as I am (I am Southern Baptist by the way).

33
posted on 08/04/2005 12:34:05 PM PDT
by RetiredArmy
(The government and courts are stealing your freedom & liberty!)

I grew up in Vermont and remember an incident that occurred in Stowe when JFK was President. I think it was the winter of 1962. The Kennedy Klan was on a ski holiday and a news photographer was taking pictures of them on the slopes. Teddy grabbed the man's camera, held it by the strap and proceeded to beat the bejesus out of the photographer. The photographer required serious medical attention and, as I recall, was subsequently arrested by Stowe Police on some bogus charge. Teddy was never charged with assault or anything else. The story ran in the Burlington Free Press for several days and included a picture of the photographer after Fatboy got done doing a number on his face with the camera.

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